Ok I know its been like forever, but hear is chapter Ten.

I didn’t come up with these characters, just got ta play with em for some, for that credit the hats are off to the Joss man. Washie hun thanks for the betaing. Also thanks to Metallica for the title…you guys might suck now, but at least you had some good songs.

Disclaimers done on with the story:

For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Kaylee sat in the mess hall looking less than sociable. She was in one of the bigger chairs pitched forward nursing a black coffee, humming to herself. The last two days had not been easy, not by a long shot. There was still a silver lining though, Inara had needed somebody, and that was her. Kaylee had been there, holding her lovely Inara as she fell into fitful sleep, kissing her, holding Inara when she had needed it most. Kaylee couldn’t imagine what it was like…it seemed strange to have the whole world you devoted much of your life to all of a sudden turn on you…all because of a brown haired mechanic.

Kaylee slumped, knowing that she was the cause of her lover's misery, and here she was drinking coffee while the love of her life prepared for one of the most trying times of hers. Kaylee looked up as a somewhat disheveled Simon shambled into the mess carrying a bottle he quickly filled with water.

"Uh…hey." The expression on his face pained, possibly more due to his current state of being than actually talking to Kaylee.

"Hey yourself…" Kaylee shot with a smile from over her coffee. "Long night?"

"Uh…I guess…I’ll see you later." Simon tried to smile, the pain of his hangover and heart break evident. He turned and left, just as Book ventured in. Kaylee looked up and smiled.

"Mornin’." The old preacher smiled.

"Hey."

"Late night?" The man asked nodding to Kaylee’s coffee.

"Mmm…maybe. Sleepless more like."

"I don’t doubt." Book smiled in his knowing way, then busied himself making tea, knowing it wasn’t really his place to probe further. Kaylee pondered for a moment then looked up at Book, opening her mouth as if to ask him something, but then reconsidering.

"If you want the answer to that question you had best ask Inara….but I think we all know what her answer will be." Book said in a low voice.

"Yeah…you're right….but…"Kaylee trailed off and looked away.

"But you need to hear the words from her…." Kaylee looked up, and half smiled, rolling her eyes.

"So I should go ask her then huh…"

"Looks like." Book smiled, pouring the hot water into his mug. Placing the kettle back, stirring the tea until suitably strong, he disposed of the bag. The preacher picked up his things then headed to the door, pausing. "Things have a way of working out Kaylee…even if it doesn’t seem like they will now." Kaylee smiled, but as he left she couldn’t help but feel down. She loved Inara, and wanted her all to herself. But not like this, not at such a cost to her lover. She sighed again, shook her head. ‘There's only one thing to do’ she mused, draining her cup and placing it in the sink.

Inara was still asleep when she slipped quietly into her own quarters. The companion hadn’t wanted to sleep in her shuttle, despite the bed being more spacious. She said it reminded her too much of what she was about to face on their impending arrival tomorrow. Kaylee smiled at the sleeping woman, she looked so peaceful and beautiful, her dark tresses awash over her sweet features. Kaylee watched her slow rhythmic breathing, then quickly shed her work boots and her coveralls.

Kaylee figured that she could afford herself this little bit of time off, after all, most of the work in Serenity’s engine room had been finished, and unless something were to go wrong in the next hour or two then she would be fine. Kaylee cautiously slid into bed next to Inara, slipping under the covers and wrapping herself around the dark haired woman. Inara sighed in her sleep causing Kaylee to smile as she buried her face in the other woman's neck, inhaling the secent of her sweet Inara. Inara shifted slightly, sighing more audibly this time. Kaylee pulled back the hair that was obscuring her features to see that Inara’s deep brown eyes were partially open.

"Mmmm…shouldn’t you be in the engine room?" The question was quiet, but not unappreciative of the attention.

"Needed to see my girl…" Kaylee whispered. Inara rolled over in Kaylee’s arms so she could look into the mechanic's face; she kissed Kaylee’s mouth shallowly, then pulled back.

"You were worried…"

"I…uh…yeah and needed to see you…oh this was stupid…" Kaylee closed her eyes for a fraction, worried that her need for answers had perhaps betrayed itself. Inara responded by placing a small soft kiss on the mechanic's cheek.

"You said to me that your never loving me would be something that I don’t ever have to worry about…I never got the chance to say that you will never have to worry about me never loving you…even if I’m not my usual self bao bai, I still love you…this is difficult but…" Kaylee opened her eyes.

" ‘Nara I feel bad…" Kaylee breathed, a small tear coming to her eye. Inara smiled, reaching up to stroke Kaylee’s cheek. "I mean this….if we hadn’t gone to the market…an-" Kaylee's voice shook with pain and remorse.

"Shhh…" Inara buried herself in Kaylee’s neck, whispering softly; "I don’t care…it's not important anymore. Tomorrow they will probably investigate all they need to and then let me stew, finally excommunicating me from the guild…" Silence swept through the room like a cool breeze. Kaylee looked at Inara nestled in her chest, sleep still clouding her eyes, her breathing still soft and slow. Kaylee pulled Inara closer to her, a mite difficult as Inara was lying in Kaylee’s arms, but Kaylee squeezed her gently all the same.

"But ‘Nara I mean…isn’t there something you can do…we can do?" Kaylee felt flustered, frustrated. She wanted to make it right for her lover but didn’t know how. Inara inhaled sharply, that pinprick scraping over a chalk board in an instant that tells someone that the other person is close to tears. Inara breathed deep.

"I don’t care any more…Kaylee…I…" Inara breathed, her voice wracked with pain, sorrow and agony. "Kaylee…I need you. All I need now is you…I…" Inara paused, feeling that despite the intimacy of their relationship, it was still early.

" ‘Nara…" Inara pressed into Kaylee’s neck a little more. "I…I will try, so help me god, to be everything you need…I’m sorry…bao bai…" Kaylee pulled Inara tighter still into her hold, cooing over her, kissing her forehead, hoping that her lover didn’t feel trapped under ice. Inara’s curvaceous body started to shake, Kaylee feeling so at the mercy of her sweet lover, holding her as she had done the few nights passed.

" ‘Nara I don’t care…I… I’m yours forever…you know…" Kaylee whispered to her sweeting. Inara pressed into Kaylee’s neck, not wanting to let go. She needed the other woman more than ever. Her body shook, her companion traning seemed to wane the more as more time went by. She could no longer keep her emotions on the inside, keep her fears in check merely to serve a client. Kaylee stroked Inara’s head, kissing the little bit of exposed temple she could find, pressing her to her chest. Kaylee felt more and more galvanized as time went by. She was determined to stay with her lover come hell or high water.

"Can you stay?" Inara’s voice was quiet and childlike; Kaylee sighed.

"I can…a couple hours at least." Kaylee squeezed Inara, Inara squeezed back nestling into the younger woman's neck. Kaylee closed her eyes hoping to relax as much as possible. That warm press of Inara’s body was comforting to her though, and no doubt her being here was for Inara too.

The two drifted in and out of light sleep, Kaylee almost subconsciously stroking her lover's head the whole time, Inara almost silent save for the light breathing. The coming day would not be pretty, Kaylee knew, but all she could do was be there, hold on. The next twelve hours were somewhat of a blur. It all seemed surreal, from leaving Inara to her meditation, sadly having to finish her work in the engine room knowing that it wouldn’t keep her mind off things, to her returning that night after dinner. Simon had inquired as to how Inara was, but River had saved Kaylee what almost certainly would have been a faltered response by pretending to accidentally spill her water in his lap. She had winked at Kaylee as she handed her brother a napkin.

Soon the morning of their arrival on Boros was there and Kaylee awoke to an empty bed, and no Inara in sight. Fear gripped her, the worst shot through her mind that perhaps Inara had left and run away without even a goodbye kiss, or worse still, but Kaylee's fears were relieved when her cabin door opened and her lover slipped in wearing a rather understated but still pretty lilac dress.

"I didn’t want to wake you bao bai." Inara said smiling and coming to Kaylee pulling her into a soft embrace in all her naked glory and giving her a small kiss.

"You looked so peaceful sleeping." Inara smiled again.

"How you feeling?"

"Resigned… I would say I'm over worring but I guess I will see when I meet with the representatives. They will be meeting us on Serenity as soon as we touch down."

"I wanna come with you ‘Nara…" Kaylee let the words hang, looking deep into Inara’s eyes.

"I…a…are you sure?"

" ‘Nara I love you…I aint’ lettin’ you face this alone." Inara saw the commitment and iron will in Kaylee’s eyes. She sighed happily, then kissed her softly on the mouth.

"I…well…I was gonna wait for to give this to ya, but now seems right." Kaylee said, turning away, and casually picking up one of her shirts, pulling it on as she walked to the cabinet she had in a far corner. Kaylee removed the small velvet box and returned to where Inara was standing. Inara looked at Kaylee then the box, her breath caught as if she were an infant taking her first breath. Kaylee looked at Inara, her eyes pools of deep love and emotion.

"I…want you to have this…’Nara…" Kaylee looked to her lover, eyes wide, soul raw and naked. Inara slid her hand to Kaylee’s cheek, her palm delicately caressing her love's cheek. Kaylee opened the box, exposing the locket in its splendour, she noticed that Inara’s eyes strayed briefly from her face to the locket.

"I…K…" Inara shook her head, her hand drawing Kaylee toward her, her lips pressing to her lover's, sweetly softly. Inara didn’t know what else to do, words could only express so much. She sighed into the kiss, pulling away only at the last instant.

"I ah…I got it so some of me can be with ya always…now um…seems like the time you know." Inara looked to Kaylee, then to the box, opening it, gasping as she saw the locket. Inara’s finger grazed the love token gazing at its beauty, noticing the small catch on the side. She looked up at Kaylee her eyes drinking in the beauty of her lover, then back to the open locket. Inara’s free hand travelled to the back of Kaylee’s head, her fingers sliding through the hair. Kaylee nodded, smiling her sweet little lopsided smile as she felt Inara feel out the small patch of hair she had parted with. Inara’s lips grazed Kaylee’s, a tentative small kiss, the companion's tongue slid gently into Kaylee’s mouth. Her lips caught Kaylee’s bottom lip, sucking on it briefly. The taller woman pulled back, knowing that the kiss would reign far longer than just the pressing of her lips to Kaylee’s if she continued. Kaylee sighed, her eyes opening again slowly, searching out Inara’s.

"Wi…will you wear it?" Kaylee’s voice quieter than usual, and lovingly reserved. Inara smiled, turning, holding up both ends of the chain about her neck, She didn’t need to see Kaylee’s face to know the other woman was smiling. Kaylee fastened the chain around Inara’s neck, then tipped her head to kiss the nape of it, the other woman shivering with pleasure.

" ‘Nara this…means a lot to me…you wearin’ this" Kaylee breathed slowly as Inara turned. "How could I refuse?" Inara stated plainly, smiling again. She brought her hand up to caress Kaylee’s cheek. Kaylee smiled dreamily.

"Mal says that we will be touching down in an hour. I was wondering if we could spend the time together?" Kaylee smiled.

"Ya’ don’t have to ask…just gimme a sec to fix myself." Kaylee pecked Inara on the nose then walked to the back of her modest room to wash her face and pull on some clean clothes. Inara sat down in a comfortable bowl-backed chair and watched Kaylee. She loved how efficient Kaylee was. Inara couldn’t fathom just how wonderful the other woman was in her simplicity. The companion looked down at her dress, simple, not at all what she once would have worn for entertaining a lover. However this was not entertaining a lover, so much as being with one. Inara sighed, all she had thought about the last two days had been getting to this day, and now here she was. It was an hour before she would no doubt meet the representatives from her house and she was sure what her fate would be, yet she had little considered what would happen after today. Would she and Kaylee have to leave Serenity, or would Inara find some other way to pay her fare?

Inara gasped quietly as reality flooded her consciousness. Fear filled her being, she slumped in the chair feeling the familiar weight of worry and sadness that had overcome her too much these past months. He loss of love for Mal, her many little tragedies along the way, worrying about her and Kaylee before she finally told the other woman how she felt, but most of all her being suspended as a companion and now all this worry about the future. Inara let out a little gasp, tears burned the corners of her eyes like sandpaper to the skin, she closed her eyes and looked to the floor, not seeing Kaylee’s approach.

"Get up." Kaylee’s voice was bright and perky, Inara looked up a little dumb-struck then shook her head.

"Wh-"

"Shh…just get up." Kaylee said softer. Inara got up and took a step away from the chair, feeling confused until Kaylee quickly slipped behind her, pulling the older woman down into her lap snuggling up to her. Inara sighed, ‘Kaylee…my little island of calm in what would otherwise be a demise of sanity.’ She lay her head back against Kaylee’s shoulder.

"You're worrying again aint' cha…" said Kaylee softly, stroking Inara’s dark tresses. Inara pressed into Kaylee’s touch, feeling more and more that she needed to be touched by this woman for her own personal sanity.

"I hadn’t thought about what would come after today…" Kaylee pulled Inara tighter to her.

" ‘Nara…" Kaylee’s voice was soft and trailed off like feather down.

"Humm."

"Stop thinking and just let me be with you…" Kaylee’s voice was so clear and so simple, undemanding in its pure want of Inara to just be with her. Inara felt herself relax almost involuntarily, she felt Kaylee pull back Inara’s lush dark hair, planting a small kiss in the crook of her neck. "Things will work out bao bai…they always do." Kaylee squeezed Inara tight. "I don’t care what happens today …I ain't ever gonna leave you…you know that…"

"God…Kaylee…I couldn’t leave you. Never." Inara’s voice conveyed anguish and pain at the thought. As if somehow the prospect of ever spending another night apart would destroy her more than actually having to endure the torment. Inara closed her eyes, pressing into Kaylee’s neck, her face cast, beautifully impassive. "Stay with me till we touch down?" There was a long pause until Kaylee finally spoke.

"Did you need to ask me?" Inara smiled to herself, laying her head against Kaylee. The time slowly passed till they made landfall, Inara in Kaylee’s arms, little said. The companion felt heavy of heart as Malcom announced their touch down on Boros, Kaylee had refused to let go, as Inara had to travel up to the cargo bay to meet the guild committee. They both made their way to the cargo bay just as it was opening.

It was almost surreal, Inara thought. Her last meeting with anyone from the guild had been in her times of grace. She was sure she would be met with distain, she just prayed it would all be directed at her and not at sweet Kaylee…or even Mal for that matter. He had insisted on being there as they arrived; Inara couldn’t fathom why, but had a sneaking suspicion it was to try and act as some kind of guardian angel should the need arise. Inara felt a little spark of happiness at this; Mal was indeed an honorable man, more honorable than he gave himself credit for. She was also glad that he was big enough to give Kaylee and her some kind of blessing.

Kaylee and Inara stood hand in hand next to Mal, he turned to look at them, his imposing height enhanced by his near military stance. He looked at the two, opening his mouth to speak, then decided that a nod was perhaps the better gesture. Inara and Kaylee smiled and turned to the loading ramp to see four people approaching in very formal dress. Inara’s heart dropped when she saw Monica dressed in her trade mark vintage white, with an un-ignorable expression of malice. Kyuss was behind her with a flat facial expression, but Inara could make out the infinite war of emotions in his deep green eyes. Next to him walked the head of the house's adjunct, shaking her head, the woman’s middle aged features screaming displeasure. Finally next to Kyuss another man who Inara could not place. He was elegant, refined in a Simonish sort of way. He had darkish skin, like that of someone born of half cast origins, long black hair that was braided, hanging perfectly at the sides of his long angled face. All four walked into the cargo bay, not bothering to look at the rest of it, eyes acutely fixed on Inara and Kaylee.

Kaylee squeezed Inara’s hand.

Inara felt the familiar sting of tears, and a churning in her stomach.

Whenever had arrived.